Cutting machinery



Dec. 3, 1935. J. E, BLOSSER ET AL CUTTING MACHINERY 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 31, 1934 PA UL BURKE ATToR 1935- J. E. BLOSSER 1=:r AL 2,022,799

CUTTING MAC HINERY Filed Oct. 31, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTQRS JOHN EDWARD 540555? PA UL BURKE 36 h 1" 94 30 %w M J3! ATTORNE Dec. 3, 1935. J. E. BLOSSER El AL CUTTING MACHINERY Filed Oct. 51, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR; JOHN EDWARD DZOSSEE PAUL BURKE ATTORNE Patented Dec. 3, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CUTTING MACHINERY New York Application October 31, 1934, Serial No. 750,784

7 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in cutting machinery, and more particularly to a machine for slitting a length or log of soft paper such as tissue paper and the like into lengths suitable for the packing and retail distribution of the paper.

In the manufacture of rolled tissue paper, soft facial tissue and the like it has been customary to Wind a length of paper on a plurality of cores carried by a suitable mandrel and to cut the length of paper into widths corresponding to the length of the individual cores as it is wound on the mandrel. In either method the waste incident to the winding of the paper on the cores Whether due to overlapping of the individual sheets or to the tearing of said sheets has been considerable and the cost due to periodic and frequent shut down of the machine extremely high.

It is accordingly the primary object of this invention to provide a new method of and apparatus for the production of rolls of tissue paper so that the winding of the paper into a roll of desired thickness and the division of the paper into rolls of the required length may be accomplished in a simple, efficient and economical manner.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a new and improved method for converting paper into rolls of the desired size wherein the paper forming the ultimate rolls may be wound on a core of indeterminate length, the length of the core being limited only by the width of the paper to be wound thereon and the capacity of the winding machine and subsequently to feed either automatically or semi-automatically the roll of paper thus formed endwise against a continuously operating out off device so designed and arranged to cut from said roll other rolls of the size required for retail packaging and distribution.

Another object of this invention resides in the provision of a movable or reciprocating work holding device so constructed and arranged as to move a desired length of the material to be out against a cutting device in combination with mechanism for removing the cut length of material from said device, said removing mechanism operating in timed relation to said work table so that each cut length of material is removed from the cutting mechanism as the work table moves away therefrom.

A still further object of this invention resides in the provision of a slitting device equipped with a movable or reciprocating work supporting table wherein the work to be slit is urged constantly against a stop device so that the material to be slit is always positioned into operative cutting position and cut into pieces or lengths of equal size.

With these and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the new method and novel features of construction, combinations of elements and arrangement of parts hereinafter to be fully described and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the. accompanying drawings:

Fig. l is a View in side elevation of the improved slitting mechanism constituting the subject matter of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan View of the mechanism;

Fig. 3 is a view in end elevation of the slitting and material handling mechanism;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a portion of the underside of the Work table showing the construction and arrangement of the work feeding mechanism, the mechanismfor moving the work table and for supporting the same being omitted;

Fig. 5 is a sectional View taken along the lines 5-5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a vertical section taken along the lines 6-6 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a view of a portion of the mechanism shown in Fig. 5; and

Fig. 8 is a view of details of the knife sharpening device. The present invention in its preferred form is primarily adapted for the slitting of a log or roll of tissue or other soft papers into small rolls of equal and uniform Width. As is well known the conversion of a roll of paper into rolls of desired size is costly especially when the paper is. wound on a mandrel carrying a plurality of cores of the required length and slit either as the paper is being wound on the cores or after the winding of the paper has taken place. The problems encountered in properly slitting the paper to coincide in width to the individual cores and in preventing the cores to assume an over-lapped relation are well known. According to this invention the present cumbersome method and apparatus need no longer be employed.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like numerals indicate like parts, and more particularly to Fig. 1, the frame of the machine is designated by the letter A and is of standard construction. The work table, designed by the letter B, consists preferably of a plurality of boards or plates I0 secured in any desired manner as by bolts H to a substantially rectangular frame l2, having its rear Wall 13 cut away as at M to receive the slitting device as will be hereinafter morefully described. As shown the boards or plates l are made of wood and the frame is made of channel iron.. As will be appreciated, however, the materials from which the work table is constructed and the manner in which the parts are secured together may be varied as desired without departing from the scope of this invention.

Inasmuch .as the table B is reciprocating across the machine a rail I5 is secured adjacent each end of the frame I2 and extending transversely thereof to which are rotatably mounted at spaced intervals rollers 6 which ride on a track formed by one of the transverse members I! of the frame of the machine. It is also desirable to provide a similar mounting for the center of the work table and as shown the rail I8 is provided with rollers I9 riding on the member 20. To prevent endwise movement of the work table with respect to the frame of the machine, a channel iron 2| extends transversely of the machine frame adjacent the aforesaid rollers l6. Rollers are secured to the underside of the work table frame and have their axes in a vertical plane so that they will contact against the inner surface of the channel iron 2|.

Reciprocating movement is imparted to the work table B by means of an eccentric strap 22 pivotally secured at one end to the table by bracket 23 and mounted at the other end on an eccentric pin 24 secured to a. disc 25. Rotary movement is imparted to the shaft 26 carrying said disc through a chain drive 21 from a reduction gearing 28. The reduction gearing is in turn driven through a coupling 29 by a motor 30 secured in any suitable manner to the frame of the machine.

The work table B is provided with a work supporting and feeding device comprising a stationary rail 3| running the length of the table. C0- operating with this rail and adjustable with respect thereto is a rail 32 bolted to the table by brackets 33. These brackets are slotted so as to permit the said rail to be adjusted to vary the work holding area between the rails. In order automatically to feed the work, in the particular case a log or roll of paper, the table is cut away between the work supporting rails to provide a slot in which is mounted an endless belt 34, trained at one end over a pulley 35 and at the other end over a drum 36 by means of which the belt is driven. The drum is connected to a motor 31 mounted on the under side of the table through a clutch 38. The clutch is normally engaged at all times but may be disengaged by a lever 39 pivoted at 40 and held against movement by spring 4|.

The slitting mechanism designated by the letter 0' is located at one end of the machine, in the embodiment shown, at the right hand end of the machine and comprises a rotary slitter knife 42 fixed to shaft 43 extending the length of the machine. This shaft ,is journalled at spaced points in bearings suitably secured to the frame of the machine and is driven by a motor 44 connected thereto by a coupling 45. A fly wheel 46 is mounted on the shaft 43, preferably at the end of the machine opposite to the end at which the slitter is mounted, to compensate for shock when the slitter 42 cuts into the roll or log of paper. It will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to the use of a rotary slitter knife and that other types of cutting tools may be used. r

Secured to the stationary guide rail 3| and in opposed relation to the slitter knife 42 there is provided a block 4'! having its inner surface 48 cut away to substantially the configuration of the roll of paper to be cut and provided with a verti- 5 cally disposed slot 49 coinciding with the slit 50 formed in the table and into which the slitter knife passes as the work table is moved away from the front of the machine and toward the slitter knife.. A bracket 5| extending outwardly from the slitting end of the machine supports a plate 52 carrying a stop 53 which determines the Width of roll to be cut from the log of paper. I This plate is adjustable on the bracket through the conventional slot and bolt mechanism 54 and 55. e r

The peripheral speed of the slitter knife should be at least 500 feet per minute and not more than 10,000 feet per minute. Due to the rapidity of rotation of the knife the cutting edge has .a tend ency to dull within a short space of time. To avoid frequent shut down of the machine either to replace the slitter knife or to sharpen the same there is provided in front of the block 41 and on either side of the slot 49 a pair of blocks 56 of abrasive material set at an angle to each 1 other so that as the knife passes between them it is subjected to a gradually increasing pressure of the abrasive blocks which themselves are backed by springs 51. ened upon each reciprocation of the work table. As an additional means of automatically sharpening the knife, a disc 58 of abrasive material is rotatably mounted on the frame of the work table and positioned so as to contact with the knife upon each reciprocation of the table. The contact of the knife with the disc rotates the latter thereby preventing an uneven wearing thereof. To prevent injury to the operator as the work table is moved into cutting position, a guard 59 When the desired size of roll has been cut from 5..

the log of paper it must be removed so as not to interfere with the proper operation of the slitting mechanism. To this end there is provided a roll removing and conveying mechanism designated generally by the letter D. This mechanism comprises an endless chain 6| mounted for movement on sprocket wheels 62 and 63 fixed respectively to shafts 64 and 65. Shaft 65 is journalled in bearings carried by uprights 61 and 68 located at the rear of the machine and shaft 64 is 55 journalled in bearings 69 and 10, the bearing 69 being carried by a horizontally disposed bracket secured to upright 51 and bearing 10 being carried by bracket mounted on shaft 65.

Paddles l2, suitably secured to blocks 13 and located at spaced points on the chain 6|, serve to propel the cut length of roll from the'slitting mechanism between guide rails 14 and 15 from the Work table onto a stationary platform 16 located in back of the machine. From this table the rolls of paper are conveyed to any desired type of wrapping mechanism. To prevent any possible side movement of the paddles as they propel the rolls between theguide rails, there is provided a pair of guides 11 secured to a plate 18 70 carried by the bracket The movement of the paddles is timed with the reciprocation of the work table as will hereinafter be more fully described.

The chain 6| is driven through an endless chain Hence the knife is sharp- 30.

19 trained over a sprocket wheel 80 fixed to shaft 65 and over a second sprocket wheel 8| secured to a shaft 82 journalled in bearings 83 located adjacent the base of the machine frame. This shaft is connected to the driving shaft 26 of the work table through an endless chain 84. By timing the movement of the paddle with the reciprocations of the work table each paddle will cominence propelling the cut roll of paper as the cut is completed so that the cut roll is prevented from moving with the table on its return travel. Inasmuch as the front end of the roll removing and conveying mechanism is supported by the uprights 61 and 68 there would normally be a tendency for the forward end thereof to sag. To suitably support the front end of the roll removing and conveying mechanism and at the same time to eliminate any possibility of interfering with the operation of the slitter mechanism, there is provided a bracket 85 mounted on shaft 64, and in which the latter is freely rotatable, which carries at its lower end a roller riding on the work table. To maintain the bracket 85 in a vertical position it is braced by means of a plate 88 secured at one end to the bracket and at the other end to the horizontally positioned bracket 61.

In operation a log or roll 81 of paper such as tissue or other soft paper is placed between guide rails 3| and 32 and on the continuously travelling belt 34. The log is carried by the latter against the stop 53 and held firmly against it by the force created by the friction of the belt on the surface of the log of paper. The work table is then moved toward the rear of the machine carrying the log against the continuously rotating knife 42. As the table reaches the end of its travel a paddle wheel comes into engagement with the end of the log of paper and simultaneously with the finish of the out. As the work table commences its forward movement, the paddle being moved in the reverse direction frees the cut roll 88 from the slitting mechanism and propels it between guides 14 and 15 onto the stationary platform IS. During the return travel of the Work table the log of paper is moved against the stop 53. The cycle of operation is then repeated.

An advantage of the form of ejecting means described is its compactness and speed of operation as a paddle rounds the wheel 62, the motion of its outer end is greatly accelerated so that it quickly removes the cut section from between the end of the log of paper and the guide 53. As the paddle moves toward wheel 63, the roll will be uniformly rolled along table 16, following the preceding roll at a certain distance and at a fixed interval of time; then as paddle 12 rounds wheel 63 its end will be greatly accelerated, with the result that the roll 88 is speedily ejected into whatever mechanism may be adjacent the cutting machine.

There is described herein a preferred embodiment of the invention. Modifications and alterations thereof will be apparent to the person skilled in the art, and it is not intended that the invention be limited except by the scope of the following claims, which are to be broadly construed.

We claim:

1. A machine for cutting alog of paper into sections comprising a knife, a work table sup- 5 porting the log, means to reciprocate said work table to bring said log into cutting position intermittently, a frame upon which said table is supported, rollers mounted upon said table and bearing upon said frame, and an endless, constantly driven belt carried by said table and feeding the log of paper endwise.

2. A machine for cutting a log of paper into sections comprising a knife, a work table supporting the log, means to reciprocate said work table to bring said log into cutting position intermittently, a frame upon which said table is supported, rollers mounted upon said table and bearing upon said frame, an endless, constantly driven belt carried by said table and feeding the log of paper endwise, and an adjustable stop aligned with said belt to limit the movement of the log.

3. A machine for cutting a log of paper into sections comprising a knife, a work table supporting the log, means to reciprocate said work table to bring said log into cutting position intermittently, a frame upon which said table is supported, rollers mounted upon said table and bearing upon said frame, an endless, constantly driven belt carried by said table and supporting the log of paper, and means to eject the sections cut from said log.

4. A machine for cutting a log of paper into sections comprising a knife, a work table supporting the log, means to reciprocate said work table to bring said log into cutting position at intervals, an endless, constantly driven belt carried by said table and feeding the log of paper endwise, and means to eject the sections cut from said log comprising a series of paddles sup-ported above 40 said work table and means to move said paddles over the surface of said work table.

5. A machine for cutting a log of paper into sections comprising a knife, a work table supporting the log, means to reciprocate said work table to bring said log into cutting position intermittently, an endless, constantly driven belt carried by said table and feeding the log of paper endwise, and means to eject the sections cut from said log comprising a series of paddles supported above said work table, an endless belt upon which said paddles are mounted, and spaced wheels carrying and driving said belt.

6. In a machine for cutting sections from a log of paper, a reciprocating work table, a knife, and an ejecting mechanism comprising a series of spaced paddles, a belt carrying said paddles, and spaced wheels supporting and driving said belt.

'7. In a machine for cutting sections from a log of paper, a reciprocating work table, a knife, and an ejecting mechanism comprising a series of spaced paddles, a belt carrying said paddles, spaced wheels supporting and driving said belt, and means to drive said belt and table in timed relation.

JOHN EDWARD BLOSSER. PAUL BURKE. 

